Workforce Development

The Alabama Community College System (ACCS) has pulled together under one umbrella its Workforce Development Division (WDD), 22 community colleges, four technical colleges, and two statewide workforce training programs to create the Alabama Workforce Training System.

This seamless network provides a reservoir of resources to help business and industry thrive.

A listing of the 22 community colleges and four technical colleges can be seen here.

The two workforce training programs are Alabama Industrial Development Training (AIDT) and the Alabama Technology Network (ATN).

Robotics Technology Park (RTP)

The Robotics Technology Park provides a technically trained, highly skilled and educated workforce for automation and robotics, to assist public and private entities, and to promote growth and expansion of companies through new robotics technologies.

The vision of Alabama Governor Bob Riley, the RTP is  a collaboration between the state of Alabama, Calhoun CommunityCollege, AIDT, and robotics industry leaders across the nation.  When completed, the RTP will consist of three individual training facilities eachtargeted to a specific industry need.  The three buildings will have an investment of approximately $73 million, including robotics equipment.

Phase I: The Robotic Maintenance Training Center will house an industry training program where technicians will be trained to work on robotic machinery. The 52,000 square foot facility will be staffed by trainers supplied by top robot builders and will be home to several major robotics and automation brands.

Phase II: The Advanced Technology Research and Development Center will feature a testfacility for companies developing leading edge robotics technology.  The 30,000 square foot facility will be used by NASA and the U.S. Army Missile Command for the purpose of research, development and testing of leading edge robotics used for military projects, space exploration and manufacturing processes.  The structure will have appropriate infrastructure to support these activities with substantial outdoor areas for testing in a variety of environments

Phase III: The Integration and Entrepreneurial Center will be a collaborative consolidationof technology involving higher education and industry.  This facility will allow companies to build and adapt robots for new industries.  Start-up plants will be able to set up manufacturing lines to integrate software and equipment, test systems and train maintenance and production staff

AIDT
Considered Alabama’s No. 1 workforce development incentive, AIDT is consistently ranked as one of the Top 10 workforce agencies in the United States and recognized internationally for its ISO-certified training program.

AIDT provides a turnkey approach with customized pre-employment recruiting, screening, training and assessment. AIDT follows up with training in leadership and managerialdevelopment as well as offering process improvement assessments.

  • Maritime Training Center
    The Maritime Training Center is a subsidiary of AIDT. This facility was designed to meet the growing demand forindustrial-related training for southern Alabama. The intent is to provide job-seekers with the qualifications and skills to join the growing maritime industry, as well as meet the needs of related industries throughout Alabama. The training center is a multipurpose training and education facility, featuring high-bay welding shops, classrooms and a computer lab.

  • Alabama Center for Advanced Woodworking Technology

    The center facilitates the growth and development of Alabama's secondary wood processing industries by providing training that will help build a modern manufacturing workforce, assisting companies in becoming and remaining internationally competitive and promoting environmentally sound processing.

Alabama Technology Network (ATN)

Alabama Technology Network (ATN) provides what amounts to an in-house business consulting team by pooling resources of universities and colleges and linking them with business and government.

ATN interconnects two-year colleges, the University of Alabama System, Auburn University and the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, one of the state’s main economic development organizations. These collectively provide innovative technical assistance and training to continually improve productivity and profitability. 

Expert advice from ATN is available for:

  • Information technology
  • Lean manufacturing
  • Quality systems and engineering
  • Environmental safety and health
  • Human resources and organizational development
  • Business services and management
  • Industrial maintenance
  • Engineering and technical services. 

ATN will assess and evaluate a situation, devise an action plan and help execute the plan. ATN's 15 regiocenters are located throughout the state from the Tennessee Valley to Mobile Bay.

ATN is also the state's Manufacturing Extension Partnership affiliate of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which provides hands-on technical assistance and training to small and medium-sized manufacturers.

Workforce Development Division

The name Workforce Development Division (WDD) implies the important task of this organization within ACCS. The WDD is charged with creating a system responsive to employers and job-seekers alike. Workforce training needs are determined and prioritized via 10 regional Workforce Development Councils across Alabama.

As the economic engine for state workforce development activities, the WDD provides a wide range of career-technical courses and short-term training for job-specific certifications.